KARACHI: The country’s bustling city faced severe traffic jams for the third day as protest sit-ins by a religious-political party blocked various roads across the city.
Majlis Wahdat Muslimeen protestors have blocked roads at more than 10 places in Karachi as part of their protest against the crisis in Parachinar like the Kuram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa arising from tribal clashes.
The protests, which have continued for three consecutive days, have brought vehicular traffic to a standstill in several areas, creating chaos for commuters.
Providing an update on the traffic situation, the Karachi Traffic Police informed that the main protest is being held at Tejaz Chowrangi. Other arteries facing closure include both tracks of Abul Hasan Isfhani Road opposite Abbas Town and University Road near Samama Shopping Centre.
Meanwhile, a dharna was also held at Five Star Chowrangi in North Nazimabad.
Shaara Faisal was closed from Malir to Natha Khan bridge, but the traffic from the bridge to the city was restored. Protesters also blocked the double track near Malir 15 bridge.
Apart from this, reports of sit-ins were also received from Sarjani Town Road, Pakistan Highway near Incholi, Kamran Chowrangi in Gulistan Johar and Nazimabad No. 1, as a result of which vehicular traffic was suspended.
The National Highway near the township was completely blocked and the demonstration at Powerhouse Chowrangi added to the city’s traffic woes.
Traffic police are diverting vehicles on alternate routes to ease congestion.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah appealed to the protesters to refrain from causing trouble to the public, saying: “Blocking roads in Karachi and Sukkur will not solve the Parachinar problem.”
The protest comes amid a worsening security situation in Parachinar, where more than 130 people have been killed in clashes since November, the flashpoint of recent tensions between the two tribal groups.
Reports also suggested that more than 100 children had died due to lack of medicine, although KP government spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif denied these claims.
Parachinar, located in Kurram, is a tribal district near the Afghan border with a population of around 600,000. It has long been the center of controversy.
The recent clashes have created a humanitarian crisis, with shortages of medicine and oxygen exacerbated by the closure of the highway connecting Parachinar to Peshawar.
In relief efforts, the Sindh Governor’s Office announced that a helicopter carrying medical supplies and other aid had reached Parachinar. These provisions were sent on the instructions of the Governor of Sindh to deal with the growing crisis.